Friday, December 21, 2018

Ventress Voice - Winter 2018

VENTRESS VOICE

Newsletter of the
Ventress Memorial Library

Marshfield, Massachusetts

WINTER 2018 Volume 25, No. 3

Ventress Library

Changes for 2019

From the Director…

The Library will be making some major
changes in the New Year! You may have noticed the activity in the Non-fiction
area of the library. The Non-fiction collection is moving out from under the
lower ceilings and will be housed in the current location of the Biography
& Large Print books. The Biography & Large Print books will be moving
to the area that currently houses the Young Adult collection. Why is the Library making all these changes?
We thought you might ask that question!

The answer is to create a space for the
new Young Adult Room and Innovation Center. As you may know, the Library
received a $15,000 LSTA Tweens and Teen grant from the Massachusetts Board of
Library Commissioners. One of the grant requirements is to have a designated
teen space complete with partitions and teen-selected furniture. Due to the
extremely high ceilings in the main library the only place we could create this
space was in a location with lower ceilings. Therefore, after much
consideration, and hours of measuring, we decided to move the collection as
mentioned above.

The library also will be installing a new
Circulation Desk to help serve patrons better and make transactions more
efficient and streamlined. But, please don’t worry…staff will still maintain
the personal touch when interacting with patrons at the desk. It’s what we do,
and will continue to do! These projects are expected to take place during the
months of January/February so stay tuned for more details to come!

We are wrapping up a busy and exciting
fall! This autumn brought us new carpet, lights, and a fresh coat of paint to
our Children’s Program Room, something we are feeling truly grateful about.
We’ve been busy at work making our Children’s Room the best it can be--look
around for new signage, more and more carefully selected new books, and a
recently updated Parenting Section!

The past few months have been rather busy
with events: from reading visits from Gurnet, our volunteer therapy dog
(generously brought by his dog-mom Bonnie), to our bi-weekly Lego Clubs, to
slime workshops, monthly Little Hands Art Camp classes, and a very
well-attended Elephant and Piggie party, we’ve had no shortage of things to do!
From September to now, we’ve seen over 2200 children and caregivers at our
library children’s programs (not counting all of our wonderful patrons who
visit simply to borrow books or use our play area)! I know that I feel lucky
for the opportunity to get to meet and talk to so many of the wonderful
children and families of Marshfield.

Looking for some fun way to get out of the
house during the upcoming winter break? Join us for a Winter Drop-In Craft
(Dec. 26th from 11:00 am- 12:00 pm), a family movie screening of Disney’s
Frozen (Dec. 27th at 2 pm), and a Noon Year’s Eve Celebration for those too
small to stay up until midnight (Dec. 31st at 11:30 am). Are you struggling to
find a good children’s book or graphic novel to read for the break, or to give
as a gift to someone dear to you? Our children’s room staff is always happy to
give recommendations!

In the New Year, we are looking forward to
a fun-filled calendar of events (slated to be released soon!). As our next
printed “Ventress Voice” won’t be for another few months, I’d love to promote
one very special January event: for parents and caregivers that have ever
wondered about language development, I hope you’ll join us for a special talk
on January 12th at 11 am with local speech pathologist and author Suzanne
Ducharme, who will be discussing the myths of language development and taking
questions from the audience. For parents bringing children with them to this
special talk, we will have puzzles and coloring sheets available to entertain
them.

Happy Winter!!! As some of you may have
noticed, things are moving around the library. It probably seems that every
time you come in, you must find the new location of items you come to browse.
This is true, as we are in the process of shifting our collection to make room
for a Young Adult space. We appreciate your patience with us during this
transition. Staff are here to help, please do not hesitate to come up to the
Circulation Desk and a staff member will be happy to assist you!

Speaking of the Circulation Desk - that is
also getting a facelift! Within the next month or so we will have a brand-new,
reconfigured and more modern circulation desk. This new desk is a bit smaller
than the current one, and will give us more space up front for displays and new
materials. We hope you will love all the changes we are making at the Ventress
Memorial Library. Again, we thank you for all your patience!

•Classic Book Group, second Wednesday of
the monthfrom 4:30-6 pm, Historical
Room – Assistant Director Chris Woods (cwoods@ocln.org)facilitates this group. Special January 2019 meeting date: postponed from 1/9 to 1/16

Attention Local Area Book Groups: Did
you know that the Ventress Library has bundled book kits for you to use for
your book group? Contact Adult Services Librarian Nancy Hickey at nhickey@ocln.orgor 781-834-5535 for more information or to
reserve a kit for your group!

Ventress Library’s fun for teens continues
in the New Year! Listed below are two upcoming events in January. Register
through the EventKeeper calendar on www.ventresslibrary.orgAlso, make sure to check out the “Teen” tab
link on the library’s webpage – event listings, homework help and the Teen Blog!!

Early Release Event: Blanket
Fort Building Challenge

Thursday, January 10, 2019

1:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Come to the library on Early Release Day from 1:30-3
pm in the Library Plaza Program Room to build blanket forts, make a few
crafts, and watch a winter movie! Blankets, craft supplies, pizza, s'mores and
the movie will be provided. Feel free to bring your own blanket fort
embellishments, snacks, and a friend!

7th-12th grades only,
registration is required.

DIY Dungeons Challenge

Thursday, January 17, 2019

4:30 PM - 7:00 PM

This month, we'll have two open Dungeons and
Dragons-related events for all teens interested in playing or leading the game!
From 4:30-7 pm in the Library Plaza Program Room we'll be hosting the
DIY Dungeon Challenge, a friendly team competition centered around DnD's
biggest bosses. Each group of teens will get a legendary monster and must
create a dungeon or lair that this type of monster could be found in. Expect to
draw out maps on gridded paper, plan out tricky traps in the environment, fill
out the dungeon with all the smaller, scary monsters that surround the big boss
and show off your final dungeon creation to all the other teens! Supplies,
monster manuals, pizza, and snacks will be provided, but you'll have to bring
the creativity!

Come into the
library to pick up your cultural series brochure with details of all these
programs. Also, follow us on Facebook and check the library website’s
EventKeeper Calendar for more details on the performers and program updates!

Join local researcher Derek Gunn as he
takes you on a journey back to January 15, 1919 in Boston where a curious set
of circumstances led to what became known as “The Great Molasses Flood.” Derek
Gunn is an independent researcher, author and artist. He is currently working on a full-length
book, “Amazing Massachusetts.” Over the past 25 years, Mr. Gunn has spoken
at many schools, libraries and museums. Visit www.amazingmassachusetts.com

2019 Kick-off Concert, Saturday, January 26, 2019,2:00 p.m., (doors open at 1:45 p.m.), “Blues,
Ballads and Bebop.” Performed by The
Bloom/Funkhouser Duo.

Free and open to public;
no tickets. Library Plaza door will be open. Light refreshments served at a
post-concert social hour.

The stellar jazz duo of Peter H. Bloom, flute, and
John Funkhouser, piano, will perform an exuberant show of Blues, Ballads and Bebop – a
captivating mix of beguiling ballads, high-energy blues, and sizzling bebop
numbers, by great tunesmiths like Hoagy Carmichael, George Shearing, Mercer
Ellington, Clifford Brown, Charlie Parker, and others. Peter and John have
performed together for more than 20 years, winning praise for their stellar
musicianship and entertaining concerts. Both are veterans of the legendary
Aardvark Jazz Orchestra (46th season). Peter Bloom has shared
the stage with jazz luminaries Charles Neville, Geri Allen, Sheila Jordan, Jaki
Byard and others. Praised for “amazing versatility” (Arts Fuse) and “hip,
jazzy flute work” (AllAboutJazz), Bloom performs in the U.S., Canada, Europe,
Asia, New Zealand and Australia, and appears on 45 CDs. John Funkhouser has appeared with notables like Luciana Souza, Tierney
Sutton, Ran Blake, Herb Pomeroy, Laszlo Gardony, Stan Strickland, and piano
savant Matt Savage. He has performed at Birdland, Blue Note,
Dizzy’s in New York, the Kennedy Center, and other top venues from Kansas City and New Orleans to Paris, Singapore, and
Hong Kong. He teaches at Berklee College of Music.

2.In
large stockpot, heat crushed garlic in the olive oil. Stir for 30 seconds and
then add one carton of broth.

3.Stir
in spinach, carrot and meatballs and return to a boil. Cook for a few minutes
and reduce heat to medium. Cover and cook at a slow boil for 10 minutes.

4.Add
pasta and cook until tender. Add more broth depending on how much you would
like. Add salt and pepper to taste

5.ENJOY!

Note: This soup will freeze well if the orzo is not in
it. If you want to save some for later, freeze part of the soup without the
pasta added, and add the orzo when you re-heat.

Creativity Corner

Welcome to a
new feature of the “Ventress Voice” paper newsletter. This space is reserved
for staff, patrons and friends to express their creativity in any medium they
wish. It may be poetry, prose, memoir, drawings…even music, when we post this
online. Please direct any submissions for future issues to VV editor Chris
Woods at cwoods@ocln.orgWe would love to hear from you!

Josie’s Story

By Nancy W. Hickey, Adult Services
Librarian

In September of this year, I
adopted Josie, a dog from a rescue-organization, and welcomed her into my life.
Josie was described as a 2 – 3 year old hound/retriever mix, weighing 28 lbs.,
who was sweet and gentle.While it was
immediately clear that Josie was indeed sweet and gentle, she came with many
unexpected surprises!

At Josie’s first visit to her
veterinarian, I learned that Josie was actually between 5 to 7 years old and
weighed not 28 but 38 lbs.! The vet also discovered that Josie needed oral
surgery, as she had holes in her gums.During her oral surgery, the veterinarian was astounded to discover that
Josie had a stick stuck across the roof of her mouth which was protruding into
her gums!Poor Josie had been living
with this stick for a very long time and finally found relief from the surgery.

Over time, Josie has adjusted
to life in my home and delighted in the pleasures of jumping on furniture and
beds, going for long walks in the woods, and showering affection on
everyone.In short, she is a joy – well
at least, most of the time – even if she came with a few surprises!

The Gift of
Christmas

By Nanette Schieron,
VML “Let’s Write” Adult Writing Group Member

It's Christmas time-

On this cold, crisp night,

Along the snowy street,

I meet the eyes of strangers

Hurrying along, laden with

Gifts for family and friends,

I flash a smile-

Looking for connection

In this season of joy.

On my way home,

In a moment of quiet

I look up

At the winter sky

With its silver stars

Strung like seasonal lights

Across the blue velvet night,

So peaceful and still,

The golden moon,

Plump and round

Gazes down at me-

Suddenly,

Giving me a wink,

She says,

"That's the spirit, sweetie,

Spread goodwill and kindness.

It's a gift to the world,

A gift that keeps on giving,

And each time someone smiles,

It will be Christmas

All over again!"

Smiling up at her radiant face,

I wink back-

"Merry Christmas, moon!”

Health
and Wellness

With
Carol Fairbanks, Library Assistant

Well winter is officially here. The time for
comfort food, sitting by the fire and snuggling deep down under flannel sheets
and down comforters.

One thing that often gets overlooked in winter is
movement. Just a quick 10 or 20 minute daily walk is enough to get your heart
pumping, keeping your body healthy and your mind sharp. And those
bright blue skies and the crisp fresh air are good for the soul.

So let's put on our boots, hats, jackets and mittens
and get outside!

Jenks
Jazz and Jive

With
Karen Jenks, Library Assistant

Make the season merry and bright with
some timely tunes from the library’s collection of holiday music. Here are the
latest selections just added to the Ventress Library’s collection!

Now That’s What I Call Merry Christmas (2017 and 2018)

A Motown Gospel Christmas

A Legendary Christmas
(John Legend)

Christmas is
Here! (Pentatonix)

Something’s
Happening: A Christmas Album (CeCe Winans)

Happy Xmas
(Eric Clapton)

Irish Country
Christmas.

Music today reaches listeners in so many new and
innovative ways. With your Ventress Library card, you can create an account on
Hoopla, a free digital media service for public libraries. You’ll have access to
an enormous collection of music, movies, audiobooks, ebooks, and more. Titles
can be streamed instantly or downloaded for enjoyment later on your computer,
tablet or phone. Your digital items are automatically returned and removed from
your device at the end of the lending period. Inquire at the library about this
service and get started today!

Still enjoy perusing cover art and lyrics? At the
Ventress, you’ll find a vast assortment of CDs including new music by popular
artists being added regularly to the collection. According to an article in the June 14, 2018
issue of “Rolling Stone” magazine, CD sales have fallen 80% in the past decade.
Companies such as Ford and Toyota have recently begun manufacturing cars without
CD players. Music downloads have dipped nearly 60% since 2012. One of the
hottest trends today is music streaming. Streaming services such as Pandora,
Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play and others allow listeners to enjoy music
anytime and anywhere on a myriad of personal devices. And what goes around
comes around. Sales of vinyl records in 2017 were at 14.3 million units, up
from a little less than one million in 2007. The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club
Band” was the best selling vinyl record last year.